Wizard 1: A monkey game? I said cheap! Oh well, send him in. What have we got to lose?

Enter Richard.

Richard: Good morning, Mr Wizard 2.

Wizard 2: Yes, sir.

Richard: Good morning, Mr Wizard 3.

Wizard 3: Good m...

Wizard 1: Yeah, yeah! Cut the crap. What have you got for us?

Richard: Oh, sir, this is a different sort of game. Each player controls a live monkey that has to navigate a maze. Players tell their monkey how to navigate the maze at the beginning of each round, and then they let their monkeys go simultaneously. Only, the thing is, they have to tell the monkeys what to do before each round. They can't talk to the monkeys while they're in the maze. As the monkeys move, they crash into each other, get turned around, slip on banana peels, and so on. Hah ha ha! And they all throw bananas at each other! If a monkey gets hit by a banana, he gets confused. It's great! Har har ho ...!

Richard dissolves into laughter.

Wizard 1: That's your game?

Richard: Wait, there's more! The monkeys are all different. One is stronger. One punches harder. One can throw things further. And so on. And you pick the monkey at random before the game starts! Hee hee! Ho ho! Hahahaaaa...

Wizard 1: This guy's one cleric short of a party. Different starting abilities? Forget it. Sounds like Cosmic Encounter. Crap game. Throwing bananas? Live monkeys? Cripes! What about a normal board game with toy robots?

Richard looks up, stunned.

Richard: Hey! Great idea!

Wizard 1: Wizard 3, go work with him on it. But this isn't helping! I need something I can put out now! Haven't you got anything else?

Wizard 1: What, are you still here? Did you forget to put on trunks on your way to the gene pool? Go get me some paper! Hut hut! Unless you don't want a published game with licensing fees!

Richard gulps.

Richard: Uh, yes, sir. Ok!

Exit Richard.

Wizard 1: OK, here's how I see it. Each player has to collect cars, and each car is different. Some are rare, and some are common. Players can't play with more than 4 of any type of car during each game, and they have to use .. Wizard 2!

Wizard 2: Yes, sir.

Wizard 1: How much money do we need to make this year? $1,000,000?

Wizard 2: Yes, sir.

Wizard 1: OK, no less than 60 cars in their car bag. Each time it is their turn to play, they pick a car at random out of their bag. Then they either roll it across the floor at their opponent, or place it in such a way as to block their opponent from rolling it at them. If you hit your opponent's car, it's out of the game. Otherwise, if you hit your opponent, you win if you break their nose ... no, wait, if you hit them three times.

I'd love to hear the real story. I searched around for it and I couldn't find it.

Yehuda... you're so frickin' close to the real story that it truly is scary. About 2 years ago Forbes ran a smallish article in their Forbes Inc. magazine ( I think it's called Forbes Inc) and Garfield alluded to events near what you say.

He also acknowledged that to that date he had earned in excess of $125 million bucks from MTG. Not too bad for a math teacher from Walla Walla eh?

If you look you'll never find me
I've gone gaming I'll be back
Got to ship a few more barrels
Got to trade a brick or two
Got to buy some more provisions
Got to run this train on through
Got to roll a few more 6's
Got to draw a few more cards
Got to shake hands with my neighbours
'Fore I'm back in my backyard
But if you look up to the night sky
That's my spaceship passing by
Give a wave that's me inside her
It's farewell but not goodbye